San Jose woman, 52, dies after skiing accident near Lake Tahoe

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TRUCKEE, Calif. — A 52-year-old San Jose, Calif., woman died last week after a skiing accident at Northstar California, according to resort officials.

At approximately 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, Northstar ski patrol responded to a report of an injury on the Castle Peak trail located on “The Backside” section of the resort, according to a Northstar press release, where Cindy Tucker Mulcahy, 52, was found lying unconscious.

Mulcahy was transported via CareFlight helicopter to Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, where she later died, according to Northstar. She was wearing a helmet at the time of her injury, according to the resort.

“Northstar management and staff and the Vail Resorts family extend their deepest sympathy and support to the family and friends of the skier,” the resort said in a statement Thursday. “The resort would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Northstar Fire Department and CareFlight staff in the rescue efforts.”

In a Tuesday afternoon interview, Paul Schmidt, chief deputy coroner for Nevada County, said the cause of death was a ruptured aorta, although it's unclear exactly what transpired last Thursday.

“(The resort) said she went over a rise and yelled out and hit the ground,” Schmidt said. “It may have happened on impact, or it may just have been the strenuous act of skiing.”

According to an obituary published in various Bay Area newspapers, Mulcahy was described as a “loving and faithful wife, a devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and cherished friend.”

She died “doing something she loved, skiing at Lake Tahoe,” according to the obituary.